Garment hanger



Sept. 25, 1951 .w. LUDWIG 2,568,753

GARMENT HANGER Filed Aug. 28, 1946 IN VEN TOR. M/a/zer Ludcu/ PatentedSept. 25, V 1951 UNITED STATE GARMENT HANGER Walter Ludwig,

Young Spring & W

Detroit, Mich., assignor to L. A. ire Corporation, Detroit,

Mich., a corporation of Michigan Application August 28, 1946, Serial No.693,513

I 9 Claims.

This invention relates to improvements in garment hangers.

The main objects of this invention are:

First, to provide a garment hanger comprising a suspending hook of wireand a supporting yoke of tubular cross section and of fibrous materialin which both the yoke and suspending hook are conformed and shaped tofacilitate ready assembly of the hook to the yoke.

Second, to provide a garment hanger of the type above described in whichthe tubular yoke of fibrous material is conformed or shaped to providestrength and rigidity and adapted to smoothly engage the garmentsupported therebird, to provide garment hangers of the type above setforthin which the tubular yoke is conformed or shaped in the bottomwallthereof for connection thereto of garment supporting means todependingly support a garment from beneath the supporting yoke.

Fourth, to provide a garment hanger having these advantages which isattractive in appearance and economical to produce.

Objects relating to details and economies of the invention will appearfrom the description to follow. The invention is defined in the claims.*Preferredembodiments of the invention are illustrated in theaccompanying drawing, in

which:

Fig. 1 is a side elevation of a garment hanger illustrating the featuresof'one embodiment of my invention. a

Fig. 2 is a bottom plan view of the embodiment shown in Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is an enlarged view in vertical section on line 3-3 of Fig. 1showing the structure of an outer end portion of the yoke.

"Fig. 4 is an enlarged view in vertical section on line 4-4 of Fig.lgshowing the structure for supporting a garment from beneath the yoke.

Fig. 5 is an enlarged fragmentary view partially in vertical section online 55 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 6 is an enlarged fragmentary view partially in vertical section online 66 of Fig. 5 showing the connection of the suspending hook to .theyoke.

Fig. 7 is a central longitudinal view partially in'vertical' section ofanother embodiment of the invention showing the-connection of thesuspending hook to the yoke.

Fig. 8 is a fragmentary view partially in longitudinal vertical sectionof another embodiment of the invention.

Fig. '9' is an enlarged fragmentary detail view on line'9'9 of Fig. 6."

- slits H in the under wall of the yoke arms Referring to the embodimentof the inventionillustrated in Figs. 1 to 6, the garment hangercomprises a yoke I having downwardly diverging garment supporting arms2, this yoke in the preferred embodiment of the invention being formedof a paper tube. The yoke l at the apex 4 thereof has its under wall 5collapsed vertically upwardly against the upper wall 6 of the yokelongitudinally centrally thereof, providing a longitudinal groove-likerecess 1 in the under wall as shown in Figs. 2 and 5 to impart rigidityand strength to the yoke at the apex thereof and to receive thesuspending hook as hereinafter described. The yoke arms 2 are downwardlybent at their outer ends 8 to smoothly engage the garment at theshoulders thereof.

These downwardly bent portions are formed by collapsing the under Wallof the yoke longitudi-' nally centrally thereof vertically upwardly intoabutting relation with the upper wall of the yoke, forming thedownwardly opening groove-like recesses 9 in the bottom wall as shown inFigs. 2 and 3. These groove-like recesses facilitate bending the endportions 8 into downwardly curved. form and impart strength and rigidityto the outer ends of the yoke arms.

The yoke arms 2 intermediate the apex 4 of the yoke and the outer ends 8of the arms are provided with pin receiving loops l0 depending from andextending longitudinally of the yoke arms as shown in Figs. 1, 2 and 4.These loops are formed, as disclosed in my copending application, SerialNo. 760,383, filed July 11, 1947, which resulted in U. S.'Patent No.2,503,829 issued April 11, 1950, by cutting spaced longitudinal, andcollapsing the under wall upwardly on the outer sides of the slits asshown at 12 in Figs. 2 and 4. Safety pins l3 are connected to the pin.receiving loops I0, with the coils [4 of the pin supportingly mounted onthe loops. The pins 13 detachably suspendingly' support a garment frombeneath the yoke. The loops 10 are readily adapted for connection toother suitable garment supporting means. 1

The tube of the yoke is formed of a plurality of layers or plies ofpaper, as conventionally shown in Figs. 3, 4 and 5, convolutely orotherwise wound to tubular formation and cemented together. The yoke inits entirety, including the collapsed apex portion 4, collapseddownwardly bent shoulder portions 8 and the safety-pin receiving loopportions l0, may be collapsed and curved or conformed to shape in theprocess of manufacture .of the tube quite promptly after the tube isWound to formation andbefore the glue or adhesive used in cementing theplies or layers together has set.

In the embodiment of the invention of Figs. 1 to 6 the suspending hookdesignated generally as I is preferably formed of a piece of wire ofsuitable gauge folded upon itself to provide a hook portion I6, thebight of vthe fold constituting the :bill I! of the hook as shown inFig. '1. The strands are brought together and twisted into at least apart of the shank portion I8, the lower ends of the strands of the shankbeing preferably offset at H] relative to each other and terminate inrelativelyshort vertical portions 20 extending through the elongatedslot 2| disposed through the abutting walls 5 and 6 and intersecting thegroove-like recess 1 in the bottom wall 5 at the apex of the yoke.The'vertical portions 20 terminate in outwardly bent yoke supportingarms 22. These arms from the ends of the slot 2i are inclined downwardlyand outwardly away from each other in substantially parallel relation tothe collapsed bottom wall 5 and terminate in upwardly inclinedprong-like portions 23 extending through the slots or slits '26 in thebottom wall of the yoke and supportin y engaging at the ends thereof theupper wall of the yoke at the apex thereof. .As shown in Figs. 2 and 6,the slits 26 open into the groovelike recess '1'. The width of the slitsis substantially less than th diameter of the prongs so that uponforcing the prongs through the slits the side walls of the slitsyieldably and clampingly engage beneath the prongs, as shown in Fig. 9.This facilitates retention of the prongs within the slits and retentionof the suspending hook in assembled relation to the yoke. In theembodiment of Fig. .8 the arms 22 are spaced from the bottom wall andthe prongs 23 supportingly engage the bottom wall of the yoke inthegroovelike recess 1 instead of the upper wall as in the embodiment ofFig. 6. The yoke supporting prongs 23 of the arms 22 being substantiallyspaced from each other reinforce the yoke against distortion'a'ndbending for a substantial distance at the apex thereof. The twistedportion [8 of the shank extending closely adjacent the upper wall '6 ofthe yoke, and the diameter of the twist portion being substantiallygreater than the width of the slot 21, prevents displacement of the yokelongitudinally of th shank during normal usage of the garment support,but facilitates ready assembly of the suspending hook to the yoke byreason of the elastic yielding of the yoke adjacent the slot 2| when thebill I] of the suspending hook :is inserted through the open ing and thehook and shank portions are forced through the opening so that the arms2 supportingly engage the bottom of the yoke.

In the embodiment of the invention of Fig. 7 the strands of the twistedshank portion is are offset at 24 relative to each other. These offsetportions terminate in oppositely disposed horizontal arms 25 which areseatingly mounted upon the upper wall ii of the yoke at the-apexthereof. The. arms 25 terminate at their outer ends in verticallyextending portions disposed through the yoke and provided at their lowerends with thearms 22] bent towards each other into crossing relation,and having the upwardly projecting prongs 23 thereof disposed throughthe slits 26 in the lower wall and supportingly engaging the upper wall,or the prongs may supportingly engage the lower wall as in themodification of Fig. 8.

The foregoing structures are characterized by the inexpensiverless ofproduction thereof, by the rigidity and strength thereof, and byeffectiveness thereof in supporting garments, both from above and belowthe yoke. The operation of the assembling may be readily performedwithout the use of tools, if desired, and once assembled the hanger iscapable of repeated use without the likelihood of becoming disassembled.

Embodiments of the invention which incorporate the principles thereof ina highly desirable manner have been illustrated and described. It shouldbe understood that the foregoing terminology is used descriptivelyrather than in any limiting sense and with full intent to useequivalents of the features shown and described within the scope of thefollowing claims.

ing an elongated slot extending vertically through and longitudinally ofthe yoke at the apex thereof and intersecting said groove-like recess,and having slits through the lower wall spaced longi tudinally from theends of said slot, said suspend ing book being formed of wire foldedupon itself with the bight of the fold constituting the bill of thehook, the strands of the folded wire being twisted-together at the shankand below the twist terminating in laterally offset downwardlyprojecting portions extending through the slot of the yoke, andterminating below the yoke in oppositely bent arms, said arms beingprovided at the outer ends thereof with upwardly inclined prongs, saidprongs being disposed through said slits, the outer free ends of saidprongs supportingly engaging the bottom of the upper wall of the yoke.

2. In a garment hanger, the combination .of a supporting yoke, and asuspending hook, said yoke being of tubular cross section and of fibrousmaterial and having downwardly diverging garment supporting armsintegrally connected to each other at the apex of the yoke, theunderwall of the yoke at the apex thereof being upwardly collapsedlongitudinally centrally thereof to provide a downwardly facinggroove-like recess disposed longitudinally of the yoke, said yoke havingan elongated slot extending .vertically through and longitudinally ofthe yoke at the apex thereof and intersecting said groovelike recess,said suspending hook being formed of wire folded upon itself with thebight of the fold constituting the bill of the hook, the strands of thefolded wire being twisted together at the shank and below the twistterminating in laterally offset downwardly projecting portions extendingthrough the slot of the yoke, and terminating vbelow the yoke inoppositely bent arms, said arms being provided at the outer ends thereofwith upwardly inclined prongs, said prongs having portions disposed .insaid groove-like recess, the outer free ends of said prongs supportinglyengaging a bottom surface of a wall of the yoke. h

3. In a garment hanger, the combination of a supporting yoke, and asuspending hook, said.

yoke being of tubular cross section and of fibrous material and havingdownwardly diverging garment supporting arms integrally connected toeach other at the apex of the yoke, the underwall of the yoke at theapex thereof being upwardly collapsed longitudinally centrally thereofto provide a downwardly facing groove-like recess disposedlongitudinally of the yoke, said suspending hook being formed of wireand having a hook portion and a shank portion, said shank portion havinglaterally spaced depending portions extending through the yoke at theapex thereof, said depending portions having below the yoke outwardlybent arms terminating in upwardly inclined prongs, said prongs beingdisposed in said groove-like recess, the outer free ends of said prongssupportingly engaging a bottom surface of a wall of the yoke, said shankportion closely adjacent to and above the yoke being of dimensionsgreater than the width of the yoke slot to retain the yoke againstdisplacement longitudinally of the shank of the hook.

4. In a garment hanger, the combination of a supporting yoke, and asuspending hook, said yoke being of tubular cross section and of fibrousmaterial and having downwardly diverging garment supporting armsintegrally connected to each other at the apex of the yoke, said yokebeing provided with an elongated slot extending vertically through andlongitudinally of the yoke at the apex thereof and slits through theunder wall thereof at each side of said slot, said suspending hook beingformed of wire and having a hook portion and a shank portion, said shankportion having laterally spaced depending portions extending through theyoke slot, said depending portions having below the yoke outwardly bentarms terminating in upwardly inclined prongs, the outer ends of theprongs being disposed through said slits and supportingly engaging thebottom of the upper wall of the yoke.

5. In a garment hanger, the combination of a supporting yoke, and asuspending hook, said yoke being of tubular cros section and of fibrousmaterial and having downwardly diverging garment supporting armsintegrally connected to each other at the apex of the yoke, the underwall of the yoke at the apex thereof being upwardly collapsed, said yokebeing provided with an elongated slot extending vertically through andlongitudinally of the yoke at the apex thereof, and provided with slitsthrough the lower wall spaced longitudinally from the ends of said slot,said suspending hook being formed of wire and having a hook portion anda shank portion extending through the yoke slot and having below theyoke oppositely bent arm terminating in upwardly inclined prongsdisposed through said slits, the outer free ends of said prongssupportingly engaging the bottom of the upper wall of the yoke, theedges of the slits being in retaining engagement with the bottom of theprongs.

6. In a garment hanger, the combination of a supporting yoke, and asuspending hOOk,'Said yoke being of tubular cross section and of fibrousmaterial and having downwardly diverging garment supporting armsintegrally connected to each other at the apex of the yoke, saidsuspending hook being formed of wire and having a hook portion and ashank portion, said shank portion being disposed through the yoke at theapex thereof and terminating below the yoke in oppositely disposed armshaving upwardly projecting prongs disposed through slits in the underwall of the yoke, the outer end of the prongs engaging the bottom of theupper wall of the yoke, the edges of the slits yieldingly engaging thesides and bottom of the prongs to retain the suspending hook.

7. In a garment supporter, the combination of a supporting yoke, and asuspending hook, said yoke being of tubular cross section and of fibrousmaterial and having downwardly diverging arms and having a pair ofopenings extending vertically through the apex of the yoke and spacedlongitudinally thereof, said suspending hook having a shank portionterminating at the lower end thereof in oppositely disposed armsseatingly mounted on the yoke, said arms at the outer ends thereofterminating in prongs projecting downwardly through said openings, saidprongs beneath the yoke terminating in arms bent towards each other,said arms at the outer ends thereof having upwardly projecting prongs insupporting engagement at their outer ends with the diverging armsoutwardly beyond said pair of openings.

8. In a garment hanger, the combination of a supporting yoke of tubularfibrous material having downwardly diverging garment supporting arms andhaving a longitudinal slit at the apex thereof extending verticallytherethrough, said arms being integrally connected to each other at theapex of the yoke, and longitudinal slits in the under walls of, the armsthereof, and a suspending hook of wire provided with a shank disposedthrough said central slit and having oppositely projecting springablearms disposed below the yoke with their outer free ends disposed in saidunder slits and housingly disposed in the tubular arms.

9. In a garment hanger, the combination of a supporting yoke of tubularsection and of fibrous material and having downwardly diverging garmentsupporting arms integrally connected to each other at the apex of theyoke, there being a central longitudinal slit extending verticallythrough the yoke at the apex thereof, said arms having longitudinalslits through the under wall thereof in spaced relation to the centralslit, and a suspending hook having a shank disposed through said centralslit and provided with oppositely disposed arms terminally projectingthrough said slits in the under wall and in supporting engagement withthe bottom of the upper wall of the arm.

WALTER LUDWIG.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file ofthis patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,510,737 Busch Oct. '7, 19241,840,665 Grauf Jan. 12, 1932 2,155,071 Young Apr. 18, 1939 2,214,849Young Sept. 1'7, 1940 2,334,371 Young Nov. 16, 1943 2,372,999 Young Apr.3, 1945 2,383,819 Ronning Aug. 28, 1945

